"No matter what you feel, there is another feeling that will come after it. Sometimes, that might be worse! (Painful honesty!) But a lot of the time, it gets better."
Good to read! I’m 62 and have been sober for 42 years. I didn’t stop out of nobility. I stopped because I knew my drinking even then wasn’t normal- the gift of desperation led me to a recovery program. I sincerely believe that my mother’s prayers helped for many, many years.
A good read! I'm 66 and have been sober for 39 years ODAT. I stopped because I decided I wanted to live; I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I especially liked your comment about "another feeling coming along" because that is so true: "This too shall pass" is an important thing to remember, whether you're in the valley of the shadow of death or at the top of the mountain. It's truly a journey not a destination. Thanks for sharing.
Congrats to you! And please, if you haven’t already, speak to your gynecologist about MHT- menopause hormone therapy. Estrogen and progesterone. Absolutely amazing.
Ana, I knew you during your stint at *that magazine everybody's grandma gets them* and you were so great--a good editor, and a good person. And so funny! I had no idea you were going through so much (though I guess that is the point). I have followed your career ever since and am so proud of what you've built, professionally and personally. You are brave and honest. I am a fan.
What a great piece. Thank you for writing and sharing. Your comment about "another feeling coming along" is so powerful for healing. I wish we could all grasp that better.
I can't help but wonder if your residential program would be covered by most people's insurance. If not, which I suspect, then it's an impossible solution for many people.
Wonderful, wonderful: "Having to give up justified resentments." Man, when I start with the resentments, I might as well break out the booze. They are simply non-compatible. Thank you for this wonderfully honest and deeply moving piece!
I take the money I'd spend on drinks and save it. If I go without drinking for the year I take that money and by myself something lux. $25 a bottle of wine 4x's a week x 52 weeks = $5200. I'm off drinking now for 3 years.
Nice to see a mention of one of my favorite books. In addition to what was said here, “A Fan’s Notes” is one of the funniest books ever and a great description of what it means to love a football team.
I relate to so much of Ana Marie Cox's story. I got sober on January 3, 1991, and I was cranky and resentful about it. Six months later, on June 15th, my mother-in-law died of alcoholism alone on her living room floor. With an almost physical shock, I realized that that would be me if I didn't knock it off and get grateful for sobriety. I also have first hand experience with the power of the disease after working as a certified counselor in residential rehabs for 15 years. Drinking hairspray (and so much worse) really happens. Thanks for a great read. 🐝
Not sober (not much of a drinker to begin with), but so much of this reverberated for me anyway. Emotions are hard to navigate, dammit, and hope is indeed a muscle that can atrophy pretty quickly if you let it, and I'm always open to being reminded of that. I have also followed your career admiringly for a while, now even more so.
Good to read! I’m 62 and have been sober for 42 years. I didn’t stop out of nobility. I stopped because I knew my drinking even then wasn’t normal- the gift of desperation led me to a recovery program. I sincerely believe that my mother’s prayers helped for many, many years.
A good read! I'm 66 and have been sober for 39 years ODAT. I stopped because I decided I wanted to live; I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I especially liked your comment about "another feeling coming along" because that is so true: "This too shall pass" is an important thing to remember, whether you're in the valley of the shadow of death or at the top of the mountain. It's truly a journey not a destination. Thanks for sharing.
Congrats to you! And please, if you haven’t already, speak to your gynecologist about MHT- menopause hormone therapy. Estrogen and progesterone. Absolutely amazing.
I really appreciate Ana Marie Coxes raw honesty. "Hope is a muscle." It's true--and it helps.
Thank you for you.
Ana, I knew you during your stint at *that magazine everybody's grandma gets them* and you were so great--a good editor, and a good person. And so funny! I had no idea you were going through so much (though I guess that is the point). I have followed your career ever since and am so proud of what you've built, professionally and personally. You are brave and honest. I am a fan.
What a great piece. Thank you for writing and sharing. Your comment about "another feeling coming along" is so powerful for healing. I wish we could all grasp that better.
Lovely and powerful.
Blessed be the 12 Step program of recovery from addiction
thanks for this. wonderful and powerful.
I can't help but wonder if your residential program would be covered by most people's insurance. If not, which I suspect, then it's an impossible solution for many people.
Wonderful, wonderful: "Having to give up justified resentments." Man, when I start with the resentments, I might as well break out the booze. They are simply non-compatible. Thank you for this wonderfully honest and deeply moving piece!
That final thought is going into my journal, where I keep tidbits to fend off despair. Thank you!
I take the money I'd spend on drinks and save it. If I go without drinking for the year I take that money and by myself something lux. $25 a bottle of wine 4x's a week x 52 weeks = $5200. I'm off drinking now for 3 years.
Nice to see a mention of one of my favorite books. In addition to what was said here, “A Fan’s Notes” is one of the funniest books ever and a great description of what it means to love a football team.
I relate to so much of Ana Marie Cox's story. I got sober on January 3, 1991, and I was cranky and resentful about it. Six months later, on June 15th, my mother-in-law died of alcoholism alone on her living room floor. With an almost physical shock, I realized that that would be me if I didn't knock it off and get grateful for sobriety. I also have first hand experience with the power of the disease after working as a certified counselor in residential rehabs for 15 years. Drinking hairspray (and so much worse) really happens. Thanks for a great read. 🐝
Not sober (not much of a drinker to begin with), but so much of this reverberated for me anyway. Emotions are hard to navigate, dammit, and hope is indeed a muscle that can atrophy pretty quickly if you let it, and I'm always open to being reminded of that. I have also followed your career admiringly for a while, now even more so.